Desk.



J. A. PEEK.

DESK.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 28, 1911.

I giwue/wtoz J/IMJ ./7. F6 6% Patented Feb. 13, 1912.

t san tmrr JAMES A. PEEK, OF NORTH MANCHESTER, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO GEORGE SI-IUPI, OF NORTH MANCHESTER, INDIANA.

DESK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 13, 1912.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES A. PEEK, a citizen of the United States, residing at North Manchester, in the county of Wabash and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Desks, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that class of school desks which are provided with a seat, the latter being located in front of the desk and designed to be occupied by the pupil using the next desk ahead.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a desk of the kind stated which is formed entirely of metal, and one which is simple in construction, the number of parts being reduced to a minimum and arranged to form a strong, durable and sanitary structure.

In order that the invention may be better understood, reference is had to the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification, in which drawing Figure 1 is a perspective view of the desk, and Fig. 2 is a cross-section thereof.

Referring specifically to the drawing, the top 5 of the desk is a sheet metal plate which is bent downwardly at its front edge to form a depending flange 6 to avoid a sharp edge, and providing a place for the pupil to lean against. At its rear edge the top is bent upwardly, and thence downwardly to form a back rest 7 for the seat to be presently described. The downward bend terminates a suitable distance below the plane of the top, and an inward horizontal bend under the top is then made to form a shelf 8. The edges of the sheet may be doubled over as shown to avoid sharp edges. The top is stiffened by corrugating the same, the corrugations being located near its edges and extending longitudinally and transversely as indicated at 9 and 10, respectively. The longitudinal corrugations are continued in the back rest and the shelf, and the latter also has a transverse corrugation 11 near its forward edge.

It will be seen from the foregoing that the top, and the back rest and the shelf are constructed of a single sheet and a strong and durable structure is had.

The desk top is supported at each end on legs 12 and 13, respectively, each pair of legs being formed of a single strip of steel which is bent to form a brace for the top and the shelf. At the top of the leg 12 the strip extends behind the flange 6, and then extends horizontally beneath the top 5, to which it is riveted or otherwise secured as indicated at 14. The strip also extends downwardly along that portion of the back rest 7 which is between the top and the shelf, and is secured thereto by rivets or other suitable fastening means, and then extends horizontally along the top of the shelf as indicated at 15, and around the front edge thereof, and rearwardly along the bottom of the shelf for a short distance as indicated at 16, a rivet or other suitable fastening means 17 passing through the shelf and the parts 15 and 16.

From the part 16, the strip extends downwardly to form the leg 13, bends being made in the latter to form ledges 18 and 19, respectively. Each leg has a foot 20 which is provided with an aperture to receive a screw or other fastening means for securing the desk to the floor. The seat at the front of the desk is also made entirely of metal, and comprises a frame consisting of a steel strip which is bent to form end portions 21 and a connecting front portion 22. The rear extremities of the end portions terminate in outward lateral bends 23 which are for a purpose to be presently described. The seat proper is a metal plate 24 which is placed between the end portions 21 of the frame, and is bent over in front of the connecting portion 22 and riveted or otherwise secured thereto as indicated at 25. The rear portion of the plate is doubled for a short distance, and then bent upwardly to form a back rest 26 which is so located as to form a continuation of the back rest 7 when the seat is in posit-ion for use. At the rear end, the doubled portion of the plate is bent around a hinge rod 27 which passes through the parts 21 and is journaled at its ends in bearings formed by the ledge 19 and a strip 28 extending over the latter from the ledge 18 to the leg 13, said strip being secured to said ledge and the leg, and having opposite the corner of the ledge 19 a bend 29 cooperating with said corner portion of the ledge to form a bearing for the hinge rod. A pivotal support for the seat is thus had, so that it may be swung upwardly when not in use, and the seat is so located that when swung upwardly it extends beneath the shelf 8 and will be entirely out of the way while sweeping and dusting the room. The seat proper is also perforated as shown in Fig. 1.

The bends 23 serve to limit the downward swing of the seat and to hold it in position for use, by engaging the under side of the ledges 18; and the rearward swing of the seat is limited by the engagement of said bends with the legs 13.

The structure herein described forms a strong, durable and sanitary desk, metal only being employed in its construction, and the number of parts is reduced to a minimum, which simplifies and cheapens the structure.

The preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown, but it will be understood that various minor changes may be made without a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. The combination of a desk top having an upstanding portion at its forward edge, said upstanding portion terminating in a downward bend below the plane of the top, and thence bent rearwardly underthe top to form a shelf, supporting legs, and a seat carried by the front supporting legs.

2. The combination of a desk top, supporting legs therefor, and a seat carried by the front legs, said seat comprising a frame consisting of end pieces and a connection therebetween, and a seat proper comprising a sheet bent over said connection and said sheet being doubled at its rear end and ter- Ininating in an upward'bend to form a back rest.

3. A desk comprising a top, a shelf beneath the same, and supporting legs, said supporting legs comprising a strip having bends to form the legs and a connecting portion, said connecting portion extending beneath the top and secured thereto, and having a downward bend to the shelf across which it extends to the front edge thereof, and thence around said edge and beneath the shelf.

4-. A desk comprising a top and a shelf formed of a single piece of sheet metal, said sheet having an upward bend at its forward edge, said upward bend terminating in a downward bend below the plane of the top, and said downward bend having a rearward bend beneath the top to form the shelf, and supporting legs for the desk, said supporting legs comprising a single strip having bends to form the legs and a connecting portion therebetween, said connecting portion extending beneath the top, and downwardly along the downward bend, and thence rearwardly across the top of the shelf and over the front edge thereof and beneath the same, and fastening means passing through the connecting portion of the strip and the parts engaged thereby.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES A. PEEK.

Witnesses:

U. R. HOWENSTINE, B. F. HOWENSTINE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

